Darekar`s twin strikes reduce West Indies `A` to 63-3 at lunch

Kingstown: Left-arm spinner Akshay Darekar struck twice to help India `A` reduce West Indies `A` to 63 for three at lunch on the third day of their second unofficial cricket Test here on Monday.

Darekar claimed two wickets for nine in 10 overs, while fast bowler Shami Ahmed drew the first blood after the hosts resumed their second innings at six without loss today.

India `A` dominated the pre-lunch session on day 3 after the visitors were dismissed for 202, giving the hosts a vital 15-run first innings lead, yesterday.

Kraigg Brathwaite (21) and Jonathan Carter (9) were at the crease at lunch as West Indies swelled their overall lead to 78 runs at the Arnos Vale Ground, St Vincent here.

Opener Justin Guillen (6) started the proceedings for the home team on day 3, accumulating a couple of runs with a whip through the deep square-leg area.

But the left-handed batsman could not stay longer and was caught at short mid-on by Abhinav Mukund off pacer Shami as West Indies `A` lost their first wicket at 11 for one.

The new batsman Kyle Corbin then joined other opener Brathwaite but the duo had a tough time against the Indian pacers who used the bouncers to good effect.
Corbin used the hook to accumulate runs and helped his team to make a recovery, reaching 34-1.

Looking for wickets, India `A` skipper Cheteshwar Pujara introduced the spinners into the attack and Darekar justified the move, dismissing Corbin for 16.
Darekar struck again when his flighted slow delivery trapped newman Nkrumah Bonner (5) in front of the stumps to leave the home team tottering at 48 for three.

Jonathan Carter then came into bat and survived a leg before appeal from Rohit Sharma, who had dismissed him in the first innings.